Foot pedal

ABSTRACT

A foot pedal comprised of a single molded body having an integral connecting flex member extending downwardly therefrom which is capable of being attached to a mounting. Upon an application of force to the pedal to operate an external member connected thereto, the flex member is temporarily placed under stress and flexes concavely towards the horizontal, the pedal automatically returning to its normal resting position upon a removal of the applied force.

Umted States Patent 11 1 [111 3,744,341

Martin et al. July 10, 1973 FOOT PEDAL 794,522 7/1905 Lemieux 74/561 x [75] Inventors: Harold B. Martin, Roselle; Herman FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Rogg, Watchung, both of 1,455,910 6/1969 Germany 74/561 [73] Assignee: Graber-Rogg lnc., Cranford, NJ.

[22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1971 [2]] Appl. No 203,578

[52] US. Cl. 74/561, 74/512 [51] Int. Cl GOSg 1/14 [58] Field of Search 74/561, 560, 513, 74/512 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS R5,595 IO/I873 Bushfield 74/561 695,881 3/1902 I-Iarris 74/561 2,482,550 9/1949 Koertge et al. 74/561 X 268,764 12/1882 Woodward 74/561 Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Att0rneyJohn J. Lipari [5 7 ABSTRACT A foot pedal comprised of a single molded body having an integral connecting flex member extending downwardly therefrom which is capable of being attached to a mounting. Upon an application of force to the pedal to operate an external member connected thereto, the flex member is temporarily placed under stress and flexes concavely towards the horizontal, the pedal automatically returning to its normal resting position upon a removal of the applied force.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FOOT PEDAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to foot pedals, and more particularly to foot pedals used in the volume control of musical instruments, such as organs, chord organs, electric pianos and the like.

In the prior art, foot pedals were generally constructed such that hinges, springs and numerous other individual spring-type components were connected to the pedal in order that the pedal could be moved between elevated and depressed positions. With such prior art pedal arrangements, not only were additional components and labor costs necessarily required but the resultant pedal arrangement generally would not yield the critical response required when the pedal was moved betwen the elevated and depressed positions. Obviously when an artisan desires certain modulating effects in operating a foot pedal connected to the volume control of an electric organ or piano, response to the force applied against the foot pedal is deemed critical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a single molded foot pedal having an integral flex member thereon for providing the necessary tension required in the operation of the foot pedal, said foot pedal being relatively low in cost to manufacture, capable of being quickly mounted to its assembly, possessing long life and permitting an efficient control of a connecting member cooperatively associated therewith.

Specifically, the foot pedal includes a single molded body of substantially rectangular configuration having a corrugated top surface and a plurality of vanes along the bottom surface lending support thereto. Extending from the bottom surface is a flex member being of a relatively wide thickness at its junction with the bottom surface and gradually decreasing in thickness towards its free end which is provided with means for mounting it on a housing. Further, the opposing sides of the flex member taper inwardly towards the free end, said taper sides and gradual reduction in thickness of the flex member towards its free end providing a uniform stress distribution therealong resulting in long life to the flex member and efficient tension response to the pedal.

DRAWINGS Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the pedal in its operating position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom surface of the pedal; and,

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration depicting the movement of the flex member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing, there is shown a foot pedal, generally referred to at 10, which is of a unitary structure, formed from a single mold, and comprised of a material such as, nylon, plastic or the like. For the sake of utility, the pedal, as described herein, is used as a foot control for the volume of sound being emitted from a chord organ.

The pedal is of a rectangular configuration and provided with a corrugated top surface 11 for preventing slippage of an artisans foot therefrom, and sidewalls 1212 extending downwardly around the periphery thereof. The bottom surface 13 of the pedal is provided with a plurality of vanes l3al3a extending lengthwise from wall to wall in parallel relationship and a plurality of vanes 13b-13b extending crosswise from wall to wall in parallel relationship, thereby providing additional strength to the pedal.

Extending perpendicularly from and integral with the bottom surface of the pedal near its mid-section is a flex member 14. The flex member is of such a configuration that, at its junction 14a with the pedal bottom surface, it possesses a thickness relatively greater than the free end 14b thereof, i.e., the thickness of the flex member gradually decreases from its junction with the pedal bottom surface towards its free end. Also, the opposing side surfaces l4c of the flex member gradually taper inwardly towards its free end. The aforesaid gradual decrease in thickness coupled with the opposing tapered side surfaces are critical in order to provide the necessary stress distribution required for long life and efficient tension control of the flex member. In other words, as a result of the aforesaid configuration, there is a uniform stress along the entire length of the flex member rather than at one given point, namely, junction 14a, thereby precluding an overstress at said point which, in turn, would shorten the life of the member and decrease the flex and resultant tension required therefrom.

Located near the free end of the flex member are a plurality of openings 15-15 for receiving fastening means, such as screws 16-16, for attaching the flex member and, in turn, the foot pedal to a receiving surface 17 located on the organ. An opening 18 also is provided near the end of sidewall 12 for receiving one end of a connecting rod 19 whose other end is connected to a volume control unit (not shown).

It will now become apparent, in operation, that as the artisan exerts a force on the pedal and depresses it, the connecting rod is moved downwardly thereby resulting in an increase in the volume of sound emanating from the organ. Simultaneously, flex member 14 is temporarily placed under tension and flexes concavely towards the horizontal, as shown in FIG. 3. Upon the release of the force applied against the foot pedal, the foot pedal automatically returns to its normal rest position as the flex member returns to its unflexed position and, in turn, the connecting rod 19 returns to its normal position. Accordingly, it can be seen that a single molded, integrally hinged, foot pedal can be quickly connected to its mounting, and operated with long life in an efficient manner.

We claim:

1. A foot pedal comprised of a single molded body having an integral connecting flex member extending downwardly therefrom, said flex member capable of being flexed when temporarily placed under stress in response to the application of an external force applied against said body for operation of the pedal, said flex member and body returning to their normal rest positions upon removal of said external force.

2. A foot pedal, according to claim 1, wherein the flex member extends perpendicularly from the bottom surface of said body, the flex member gradually deing a connecting member.

6. A foot pedal, according to claim 5, which further includes a plurality of integrally connecting vanes located in a predetermined spaced relationship on the bottom surface of said body for lending support thereto.

7. A foot pedal, according to claim 6, wherein the top surface of the body is corrugated for preventing slippage of a force exerted thereon.

8. A foot pedal, according to claim 7, which is comprised of a nylon material. 

1. A foot pedal comprised of a single molded body having an integral connecting flex member extending downwardly therefrom, said flex member capable of being flexed when temporarily placed under stress in response to the application of an external force applied against said body for operation of the pedal, said flex member and body returning to their normal rest positions upon removal of said external force.
 2. A foot pedal, according to claim 1, wherein the flex member extends perpendicularly from the bottom surface of said body, the flex member gradually decreasing in thickness from its junction with said bottom surface towards the free end thereof.
 3. A foot pedal, according to claim 2, wherein the flex member includes opposing lateral surfaces which taper inwardly from said junction towards its free end thereby providing a uniform stress distribution therealong.
 4. A foot pedal, according to claim 3, wherein the flex member is provided with means for attaching said member to a mounting.
 5. A foot pedal, according to claim 4, wherein said body is provided with means for receiving and operating a connecting member.
 6. A foot pedal, according to claim 5, which further includes a plurality of integrally connecting vanes located in a predetermined spaced relationship on the bottom surface of said body for lending support thereto.
 7. A foot pedal, according to claim 6, wherein the top surface of the body is corrugated for preventing slippage of a force exerted thereon.
 8. A foot pedal, according to claim 7, which is comprised of a nylon material. 